How are the LHA rates worked out?

Each Local Authority is divided into areas called Broad Rental Market Areas, Rushmoor has 1 area.

The Rent Service sets monthly LHA rates for different size properties in each of these Areas. These are published by the council and the Rent Service so that landlords and prospective LHA customers can find out the amount of rent that the LHA will cover in any given circumstance. People looking for accommodation are able to see the LHA rate that will apply to them, before deciding whether to rent a property.

The amount of LHA a tenant might qualify for depends on:

• The area they live in – this will establish the Broad Rental Market Area; and
• Who lives with them –this will determine the size of the property they are allowed and will be based only on the number of bedrooms required.

The details of who lives with them (the number of people who share the accommodation with the tenant) are used to work out the number of bedrooms a tenant is entitled to.